East Coast Surfing Championships Lure Some Big Names

Like waves rolling toward the beach, the fortunes of the East Coast Surfing Championships have seen their ups and downs over the years.

But hopes are cresting for this the 47th edition of the event, happening this weekend at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

"We're probably going to see some good surf, 4- to 6-foot waves," George Alcaraz, general manager for the seaside sports celebration, said earlier this week.

"Everything's on our side this year. We've had some bad luck with the weather in the past. But this year everyone's enthusiasm is really high."

Surfing and skating competitions are at the core of the weekend's action, but the event continues to be a prime spectator-friendly social event.

This year, sportswear sponsors including Vans, Quicksilver and Element have opened up new possibilities, Alcaraz said. "We've got all the West Coast apparel companies coming for the first time. In years past we've had 20 tents in our vending area. We have 50 this year. Every major vendor from the West Coast is coming. We wanted to open up the floodgates to get it to that next level ... It's unbelievable the partnerships that have come out of this."

Musically speaking, the ECSC shifted the focus from big-name, high-price national acts to local and regional bands.

Headlining are The Connells, a North Carolina band that never pierced the Top 40, but nonetheless became a favorite on college campuses starting in the late 1980s.

"The Connells have a really good following around here," Alcaraz said. "And we have Tom Curren, a champion surfer who has a band, opening up the festival."

Elsewhere on the entertainment schedule, local party favorites Right On and The Deloreans appear as well as reggae specialists Natures Child and heavy rockers Freedom Hawk.

Alcaraz, who has worked with the championships for 20 years, said that the event is adding fireworks for the first time ever. They'll snap, crackle and pop over the oceanfront tonight. "It's going to be a huge display. It should draw a crowd," he said.

More sponsorship muscle has allowed the event to transform the beach into a playground for surfers and spectators alike. Special grandstands are being erected thanks to Vans, the sneaker company. Thirty palm trees are being hauled in to create a luau theme for tonight's weekend kickoff.

"We're trying to show how the sport of surfing has evolved in Virginia Beach," Alcaraz said. "There's really a strong community here."

EAST COAST SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

When: 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. today and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Professional and amateur surfing will take place 7 a.m.-6 p.m. today and Saturday and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Virginia Beach on the sand between 2nd and 9th Streets

Admission: Viewing all activities and entertainment is free. Entry fees are charged to participate in various competitions.

More info: 456-1535 or surfecsc.com

Event schedule (condensed):

Today

Noon - Vans skate and BMX demo

6 p.m. - ECSC Hall of Fame induction

Saturday

8 a.m. - Beach volleyball tournament 7th-9th streets

9 a.m. - Cornhole tournament 4th street

Noon - Vans skate and BMX demo

4 p.m. - Swimsuit pageant 4th street

Sunday

8 a.m. - Triathlon as well skimboarding, beach volleyball and flag football competitions

8:30 a.m. - World Sand Soccer Association tournament

11:30 a.m. - Cornhole tournament

2 p.m. - Vans skate and BMX demo

3 p.m. - Swimsuit pageant 4th street

Music schedule:

Today

3 p.m. - Carbon Jam

4:30 p.m. - Good Old War

6:30 p.m. -Tom Curren

6:50 p.m. - Snackbar Jones

8:30 p.m. - The Deloreans

9 p.m. - The Right On Band

Saturday

Noon - Freedom Hawk

2 p.m. - Borderline Crazy

5 p.m. - Butter

7 p.m. - Valient Thorr

8:30 p.m. - The Connells

Sunday

Noon - The Architects

1:30 p.m. - Nature's Child

4 p.m. - Kelly James

6 p.m. - Jackmove

IT'S ON!

The producers of the East Coast Surfing Championships confirmed that the event will continue as planned. "The show is on," George Alcaraz, general manager of ECSC, said Thursday. "Naturally, we'll be in constant communications with the proper authorities and public safety officials during the next 48 hours."